Dear ALL,

        Please accept my thankfulness to all who has generously shared
his/her experience with me. Your advices and comments are valuable and
cast me light on this issue.

        This list is wonderful to have person like you. Thanks a lot.

*************************************************
Alice Wong (Miss)
Serials Librarian
Serials Department                                    (T) (852) 2859-2209
University of Hong Kong Libraries             (F) (852) 2915-2458
University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, H.K.

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU]On Behalf Of Ian Woodward
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 9:38 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: Percon Barcode Scanner used for Inhouse statistics

        I assume that you are referring to their portable barcode reader,
no?  We did at one time make use of this device for the collection of use
statistics and still make use of it for general inventory.  One difficulty
you find with such an implement is that the Innopac system may freeze as you
are attempting to download your collected data.  In such circumstances, the
data you have collected is lost. Also, the circulation statistics function
credits the collected data to the time at which you downloaded the data, not
the time at which it was input into the portable scanner. If the monthly
statistics are salient to you, you must remember to download your data
within the month you collected it.
        Our institution used to make use of barcodes on shelf labels in a
matter similar to that referred to by Mr. Lester.  In addition to the
troubles noted above, these labels disappear.  Our student workers do not
typically manifest the initiative to actually inform the staff of anomalies
and impediments such as this.  We thus removed these labels and relegated
the portable reader to tasks of inventory control.
        At this point, we have a print title list kept in some big honkin'
looseleaf binders.  For each title, there is a barcode attached to a dummy
item record which functions as a deposit for use statistics.  Mr. Lester's
system requires such a dummy record as well.  Before shelving, our student
workers arrange the mass to be shelved in alphabetical order and then locate
the barcode for each title in the register, making one stroke across the
appropriate barcode for each item of a particular title to be shelved.
        Lists such as this do require maintenance.  New titles have to be
added.  Also, one does need to make discretionary annotations to instruct
student workers as to which barcode to use when title changes render such
ambiguous.  If you need details on the manufacture of such a list, I can
provide them.  Best of Luck, IW

I. Woodward
Serials Office
Colgate University Libraries
13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, N.Y. 13346
USA
Ph:  315-228-7306
Fax: 315-228-7934
iwoodward@mail.colgate.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Alice Wong [mailto:amywonga@HKUCC.HKU.HK]
Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2002 1:55 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Percon Barcode Scanner used for Inhouse statistics

Dear Colleagues,

        May I share your wisdom on using the Percon Barcode Scanner to
collect inhouse use statistics of the serial collection? Our serial
collection is put to open shelves and non-circulating. We use the Innopac
system, not the millennium yet. Grateful if you will enlighten me on:

1. How do you collect the inhouse use statistics?
2. How well does the Percon to be used with the Innopac system?
3. How reports can be generated? From Innopac? Or by

Any hints or comments will highly be appreciated.

Yours sincerely,
Alice Wong
Serials Department
University of Hong Kong Libraries